Goose Pond prepares to open to public

Turkey bass tourney Hensleys score again

Turkey bass tourney Hensleys score again

November 13, 2005|LOUIE STOUT

A longtime dream of Hoosier conservationists becomes a reality Monday when southern Indiana's Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area opens to the public. The 8,000-acre state property is located in Greene County between the towns of Linton and Sanborn. "All Hoosiers can be proud of this joint effort to conserve this beautiful habitat and provide for its enjoyment," said Gov. Mitch Daniels. DNR Director Kyle Hupfer said that DNR staff will manage the new acreage at Goose Pond, keeping operating costs to a minimum. The DNR has preliminary plans to build a boat ramp, improve access, and to manage habitat for ground-nesting birds. "This will be an extraordinary opportunity for Hoosiers who love to view wildlife, hunt, or trap," Hupfer added. Of the $8 million Goose Pond purchase price, about $2 million came from state coffers and $500,000 of that was funded through the Indiana Heritage Trust which comes from the sale of the Environmental License Plate. Other state money included gamebird habitat stamp, duck stamp receipts and the Indiana Fish and Wildlife Fund, which comes from license money. Approximately $4.7 million came from federal sources -- the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the North American Waterfowl Conservation Act, and the Federal Highway Administration. Major contributors besides the DNR and the Indiana Heritage Trust Program were The Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited. The rest came from private conservation partners. Prior to the DNR's acquisition, Ducks Unlimited worked with the USDA-NRCS through the Wetlands Reserve Program to design and restore Beehunter Marsh and portions of Goose Pond. More than 2,200 acres of restoration work has been completed by Ducks Unlimited, including wetland restoration, bottomland hardwood reforestation and native prairie establishment. Private conservation partners in Goose Pond acquisition project include Central Indiana Pheasants Forever, Cinergy Corporation, Furtakers of America, Gator Group, Inc., Greene County Commissioners, Indiana Beaglers Alliance, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Sportsmen's Roundtable, Inc., Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce, Lockwood Marine, Fort Wayne Royal River Orvis Flyshop, Sassafras Audubon Society, The Izaak Walton League of America, The Indiana Wildlife Federation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wagner, Crawford, Gambill and Trout, and Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP. For more information about Goose Pond, visit the website www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/goosepond.